Community Volunteer Development Coordinator- Galle

Contract

This is a UNV National Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Specialist contracts.

The United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) was established by the UN Secretary General in October 2006, following a request from the General Assembly and the Security Council. With the primary aim of preventing a relapse into violent conflict, the PBF is currently providing fast, flexible, and relevant funding to over 20 countries. UNV along with WHO and UNDP developed a project titled “Youth Participation and Engagement for a Healthier, Equitable, Safer and United Sri Lanka,” which will leverage volunteer networks for aims to improve access to opportunities for young aspiring leaders to meaningfully engage in promoting social cohesion and development that will enhance their political and civic representation and thereby address the issues of trust and lack of recognition they receive as leaders in their own communities.

Young people are valuable innovators and agents of change, and their contributions should be actively supported, solicited, and regarded as essential to building peaceful communities and supporting democratic governance and transition. Moreover, young people’s participation promotes civic engagement and active citizenship. UNV will work to promote inter-ethnic relations and the art of leading collectively through meaningful volunteer engagement and capacity development of youth parliamentarians, selected youth-led/focused organizations. This will include developing the leadership potential of youth to support young men and women’s potential as positive agents of change in their respective communities. Moreover, the project will aim at strengthening of Volunteer Involving Organizations (VIOs), Civil Society Organizations and Community Based Youth Organizations to enhance programming and volunteer mobilization, as well as the mobilization of young people to strengthen social cohesion.

Under the overall supervision of the Programme Assistant and the direct supervision of the Project Coordination Officer – Youth Wellbeing Promotion and Volunteer Management and Community Engagement Specialist the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

Support the planning and development of 9 Community Volunteer Centers (CVCs) spread across the country; drafting standard operating procedures (SOPs) including management and sustainability; stakeholder identification and engagement and monitoring and Evaluation.
Assist in the local and regional community engagement activities promoting peacebuilding, youth wellbeing, development, and volunteering in the Decade of Action
Generating ideas, identifying innovative approaches and implementation support to increase impact of community engagement, youth empowerment and peace development initiatives by UNV and project partners
Position young people and volunteerism as catalysts of development for future-focused resilience initiatives such as, participatory governance, inclusive leadership, critical thinking, conflict transformation, social cohesion and sustainable development
Assist in planning and organizing trainings, workshops and other capacity building initiatives promoting volunteer youth engagement for peacebuilding
Identify and engage with grassroots level networks and partnerships as required.
Support identifying, building and strengthening of strategic partnerships with local Volunteer Involving Organizations (VIOs), Youth Clubs, Civil Society Organizations, Corporate and Government sectors.
Support the organizing of periodical coordination meetings between partners and stakeholders as required
Develop communication and knowledge products in liaison with the communications team
Tracking and periodical review and monitoring of ongoing projects ensuring project related documentation and reports are prepared in a timely manner
Any other related tasks assigned by the supervisor

Adaptability and Flexibility, Commitment and Motivation, Commitment to Continuous Learning, Communication, Integrity, Planning and Organizing, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity, Working in Teams

At least 3 years of professional work experience at the national and/or international level in volunteer management, database management, coordination, community engagement and administration support or other relevant programmes; previous volunteering experience is an asset, as is experience working in the UN or other international development organization;
Excellent oral and written skills in English; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills
Excellent oral and written skills in Tamil or Sinhala in line with the official language at the Duty Station; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills
Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing;
Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development;
Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel;
Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment;
Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines;
Sound security awareness;
Have affinity with or interest in Peacebuilding, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

Galle is situated on the Southern Province of Sri Lanka Galle is a major city in Sri Lanka, situated on the southwestern tip, 119 kilometres (74 mi) from Colombo. Galle features a tropical rainforest climate. The city has no true dry season, though it is noticeably drier in the months of January and February. As is commonplace with many cities with this type of climate, temperatures show little variation throughout the course of the year, with average temperatures hovering at around 26 °C (79 °F) throughout. As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials.